Soon after Income Tax officials raided the BBC’s offices in Mumbai and Delhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday labeled the British broadcaster as the “most corrupt” organization in the world. BBC alleged that BBC’s propaganda and the Congress’ agenda go together.
The raids are happening weeks after the British state-run media released a documentary accusing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of fueling polarization.
The documentary was banned in India.
Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia rejected the Congress’ criticism of the Income Tax action and said the government agency should be allowed to do its job. The saffron politician also said that Congress should remember that the then prime minister Indira Gandhi had also banned the broadcaster.
IT Department told reporters that “surveys” were being carried out at multiple locations. The Indian government is accused of intimidating dissenters by launching investigations against them.
The taxmen sealed off the offices for a “survey” linked to alleged irregularities in international taxation and transfer pricing involving the BBC, various media outlets reported citing sources.
The offices were sealed for the “survey,” and employees were asked not to call anyone.
Documents were seized and the phones and laptops of journalists were taken away, the sources said.
“We needed some clarifications and for that our team is visiting the BBC office and we are conducting a survey. Our officers have gone to check account books; these are not searches,” Income Tax sources said to the media.
“Here we are asking for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani-Hindenburg row, and there the government is hounding BBC. Vinash Kaale Viprit Buddhi (when one is doomed, one makes wrong decisions),” said Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra jibed in a tweet: “Reports of Income Tax raid at BBC’s Delhi office. Wow, really? How unexpected.”
Meanwhile, the BBC had released a statement stating that they have been fully cooperating with the surveys and hope to resolve the issue soon.
 on Tuesday labeled the British broadcaster as the “most corrupt” organization in the world. BBC alleged that BBC's propaganda and the Congress’ agenda go together.){kind=link}